Alvin M. Johnston

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Alvin M. "Tex" Johnston (August 18, 1914 - October 29, 1998) was a test pilot for Bell Aircraft and the Boeing Company. He is best known for rolling the Boeing model 367-80 (better known as the Dash-80, the prototype of the KC-135 Stratotanker, which was the basis for the 707) in a demonstration flight over Lake Washington outside of Seattle, on August 7, 1955. The manoeuvre was caught on film and is frequently shown on the Discovery Wings cable channel in a three-minute short as part of the Touched by History series. Although he was harshly reprimanded by the Boeing Corporation, he kept his position as a test pilot, and got in no legal troubles for his actions.

Tex was also a test pilot for the Boeing B-47 and B-52. On the last test flight, he rolled the B-47 several times, which greatly upset his boss, as expressed in multiple interviews with Johnston and his boss.^{[citation needed]}

Prior to Johnston's career at Boeing, he flew for Bell Aircraft. Most notably, he flew the X-1 on May 22, 1947.^[1] Johnston also flew the P-39 Airacobra during the prototype phase.

Later he bought two surplus Airacobras and modified them to enter and win the Thompson Trophy at the National Air Races.